Prep soil for broccoli plant and spring cabbage (Best soil for broccoli and spring cabbage)
How to grow broccoli plant and spring cabbage plant in chemical free cultivation. (Spring cabbage and broccoli grow guide.) Spring cabbage is planted around early November and cultivated through the winter for harvesting in early March.
For broccoli as well, we plant around early November for overwintering, aiming for spring harvest. We plan to harvest the broccoli plant around early March.
This time, since it’s the first time cultivating broccoli plant and spring cabbage, we’ll prepare the soil, but first, we’ll tidy up the green pepper.
Green peppers were the easiest to grow among summer vegetables. I managed to harvest even in autumn by adjusting the frequency and amount of fertilization. I’ve enjoyed growing and harvesting enough, so I’ll tidy up.
Soil preparation for broccoli plant and spring cabbage (Best soil to grow broccoli and spring cabbage)
Let’s check the condition of the soil before preparing it for broccoli plant and spring cabbage. It’s better to keep the soil in the field as soft as possible, as it improves the growth of broccoli plant and spring cabbage. (The best soil for broccoli and spring cabbage is soil with a crumbled structure.)
The beds used for growing summer vegetables become hard and dry, so we water them to adjust the soil hardness. (When the soil is dry and hard, even if you make beds, it’s difficult for broccoli plant and spring cabbage to grow well.)
After watering, we’ll use a trowel to blend the soil and water. To make the field soil soft, it might be a good idea to incorporate air into it.
While blending water and soil, we’ll also remove small stones and roots.
When the soil in the field becomes soft enough, I will add fertilizer to the bed for spring cabbage and broccoli. The bed size is about 52cm×70cm (about 20 inches × 28 inches).
For preparing the soil for spring cabbage and broccoli, I use well-fermented cow manure compost, chicken manure, and canola cake. (Best organic fertilizer for broccoli and spring cabbage.) Mix the prepared compost and fertilizer in a bucket.
Cow manure compost helps make the field soil soft and fluffy. (Best soil for growing broccoli and spring cabbage.) Chicken manure and canola cake are added as a base fertilizer for spring cabbage and broccoli.
Spread the compost and fertilizer in the bed for spring cabbage and broccoli, and mix them into the soil. (Use a hoe or shovel to mix the soil and fertilizer.)
How to make bed for spring cabbage and broccoli (Spring cabbage and broccoli garden tips)
After fertilizing the broccoli and spring cabbage, the next step is to create the bed. Shape the broccoli and spring cabbage bed with a trowel and wooden boards. Use the trowel to press down on the edges of the bed and make it a little firm so bed won’t collapse easily.
Afterward, cover the broccoli and spring cabbage bed with black polythene mulch, and secure the mulch with mulch pins. I will use the leftover mulch sheet from the strawberries growing next to it. With this, the soil preparation and bed making for spring cabbage and broccoli are complete.
Related information on spring cabbage cultivation（Frequently Asked Questions for growing spring cabbages）
When is the harvest time for spring cabbage? (When do you harvest spring cabbages?)
The harvest time for spring cabbage is around early March of the next year. Spring cabbage is planted later, around early November, so the harvest is also later. Growth slows down a lot during winter, so it takes more time to harvest compared to regular cabbage. (Regular cabbage is planted in early September and harvested around early November.)
https://www.vege-try.net/en/harvest-spring-cabbage-enRelated information on broccoli cultivation
When is the harvest time for broccoli?
The harvest time for broccoli is around early March. Broccoli harvested in early spring grows while surviving the winter, so it has a long growing period. (If planted in early November and harvested in early March, the growing period is about four months.)
How do you harvest broccoli?
Broccoli is harvested from the top bud that grows on the center stem. To harvest, use scissors to cut right below the bud. Broccoli is ready to pick when the bud is about 12–15cm (4.7-5.9 inches) in diameter. Be careful not to wait too long to make it bigger; if left for too long, the buds may start to bloom.
When is the time to add extra fertilizer for broccoli? (The timing for side dressing for broccoli)
The time to add extra fertilizer for broccoli is around mid-January. For broccoli grown over winter, it begins to grow actively in early spring (around mid-February). Fertilizer is added early so it will work when the plants start growing. (In winter, fertilizer takes about one month to break down, so adding it early helps.)
How much extra fertilizer do you need for broccoli?
The amount of extra fertilizer for broccoli is 40g (1.4 oz) of chicken manure per plant. When applying it, add 20g (0.7 oz) in two spots to avoid uneven distribution. Be careful with the amount, as too much fertilizer can attract pests or cause poor growth in broccoli.
Following is the video for how-to. English subtitles are available.